Part 2: Legacy of Sorrow.

"One of you shall betray me."
Mathew: 17. 21.

Chapter 9: Stairway to the clouds.
Clock tower, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
The royal knights where standing guard. They where alone. Shaft completed his ritual. The pentagram, which he had painted upon the floor, became alive. The wall which he created to protect himself and the fox-hunters, shielded from oblivion. From the plains of Chaos, he had conjured the spirit of the fallen guardian. "You summoned me in the name of lord Dracula." The voice was a mere whisper in their mind. "Behold." The dark priest exclaimed. "The angel of Death has returned." "Hail you!" The royal knights gave forth their salutation. "Hail the count!" Ninjara and the other foxes cheered. Then they became silent. Shaft signalled the rite to be complete. Those which he had summoned, where released. The candles burned with a dim yellow flame. Though their mission was not yet complete. Although the knights where ignorant, bogh the shadow priest and the angel knew what was at stake. "It has still not begun." Shaft said in a low voice. "I have been probing the realm in which the force is located." He folded bogh hands into his lap. "Though it is on the brink of the abyss." Death acknowledged this information. "We have to get closer." He merely said.

Castle keep, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Mist and gloom was all about. Heinrich had the whip ready. He was at the head, with Torah at his side. Rose's glow was the only source of light. The grey stone of the steps was all which they might see. Patrick, with his sword in hand, was at the rear. Rose lifted into the air. She flew forward for some distance. Torah signed for them to stop. "What is it?" Patrick asked. She frowned. "I'm not quite sure." Heinrich toutched the cross. HE almost thought he heard something. "Watch out!" Rose then shouted. "They are here!" Heinrich heard the flapping of many wings. He expected demons to appear. Instead there was a symphony of bats. Heinrich didn't waver. The stopwatch slowed their progress. At least for a while. "Fountain of fire!" Torah released her magic. Patrick snarled. HE threw flowers into the air. "There are more of them!" The fairy warned. That was no lie. More and more bats where approaching. The little sorceress was busy picking crystals. Heinrich held the icon. A wall of flame shone in the night. It couldn't penetrate the heavy layers. Torah slashed those who came through his defences. The steps where not longer then some two or so meters. Heinrich claimed the crystals. He felt re-energized as he claimed those gemstones. Patrick came forth. He shot plasma at them. The mammals fluttered and flapped all about. The hunters pressed their momentum. Patrick released a flurry of flames. The bats burned to ashes. Torah was sining her dryad music. Heinrich threw holy water. They picked the crystals and continued. They reached the top of the stairs. Although shrouded, Heinrich thought the square to be of considerable size. "I don't see her anywhere." Rose chirped. "Saria isn't here." Torah said in a low voice. "We have to continue." Heinrich stated. This couldn't be the top of the keep. "Wait." Patrick said. Heinrich and Torah bogh turned. Standing at the center, was Renon. "I have been waiting for this." The salesman said. "At last, we reached the climax." He tipped his hat. "I have come to take my leave." He smiled. Even bowing before the two. Then he checked his pocket-watch. "We will not meet again, Master Belmont, young mistress Fernandez. At least not during your lifetime." HE took a few steps back. "Rumours of an impending global war have reached my attention." His eyes gleemed. "The death of millions is a wonderful business opportunity." He again tipped his hat. Heinrich toutched his crucifix. As if some cloud had been lifted from his mind, he remembered about Reinhardt's warning. By Torah's paled expression, it seemed like she also remembered. Then the trader looked upon the man-beast. "But first, there is a small thing which I require from you." He opened his brief-case, preducing his contract. "This scroll, which you have used so often, have you read what it says?" Patrick shook his head. Heinrich drew closer to the sorceress. She'd moved into a defensive posture. "It is written in ancient demon script." Renon still acted bogh polite and servile. But there was something else. "Impossible to read." A smile had appeared upon his thin lips. "What is written is thus; You have agreed to a contract with Satan. Borrow over 30 thousand gold-pieces, and your soul is forfeit." Renon pointed to his sheet of paper. "You have taken far more then this amount. I now enforce the contract upon the Master's behalf." Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "God in Heaven!" Torah exclaimed. Patrick was silent. Renon had changed. He no longer was that polite businessman clad in his grey suit. The winged devil held its pitchfork in bogh hands. "Your soul is mine!" Renon roared. Patrick resheated his sword. "Go!" He shouted. "Save Saria." The green-skinned demon was heading for him. "Kill Dracula!" Patrick had his shotgun in hand. "This is my own fault." Torah was charging up her magic. "Come on." Heinrich said. HE grabbed her by the shoulder. "This is his fight." He didn't look back. "No one then himself might save his soul." Torah struggled to get free. But when they began to climb the next flight of stairs, she calmed. Rose was speaking in her ear. Heinrich didn't even try to evesdrop. He'd told the truth. Patrick would have to fight his own battle. HE cracked the whip. Other bats came waving down.

Patrick dodged the flurry of steam-blasts. His pistol was loaded with only silver bullets. He'd been a fool to trust this devil. But Patrick knew it wasn't about that. He fired. Renon screamed when the bullet hit him. "From the depths I summon thee." Renon chanted. "The servants of the subterranean ruler, the deep of the dark ocean!" Four evil stars appeared near the coners of the square. "Blasted." Patrick cursed. His own careless attitude and greed, which the gold had awakened, made this to him. Patrick accepted this to happen. But he would not be the source of the others delay. His body beamed with plasma. The foul Baracuda-like monsters all burned. He picked the crystals. Renon released another onslaught of steam-blasts. Patrick realized how Heinrich might have felt. When fighting against the angel of Death. Renon stabbed his trident down. Patrick made a back-flip. HE howled his challenge. The silver bullet pierced his flesh. Renon roared like a wild beast. Flames burned his body. Heinrich shot plasma toward the Scuba monsters. Renon came dashing through the air. The huge bat-like wings spread to either side. Patrick shot plasma into his body. The demon twirled his weapon. He blocked the onslaught. "Block this." Patrick muttered when releasing the cross-shaped blast of pure energy. The impact shot Renon from the sky. The green devil drew blood of its muscular frame. The steam-blasts hit him hard. Patrick staggered. Then he pulled the trigger. Renon got shot head on. Patrick struggled for his breth. The impact struck the air straight from his lungs. Renon gathered. HE came dashing with his pitchfork ready. The Scuba monsters where abroad. Patrick released a flurry of flames. That struck Renon from the sky. More importantly, it burned the demons. Patrick gathered their crystals. HE threw roses into the evil star symbol before others might arrive. Renon shot another barrage of steam-blasts. Patrick managed to move in time. The symbol burst into oblivion. Patrick gathered quite some large crystals. He needed the red medicine. Renon wouldn't give him the time. Patrick groaned. His ribs might be broken. Renon stabbed. Patrick fired his sidearm. Renon fell burning upon the floor. Silver howled his victory. Then pain forced him down. Patrick had his medicine. Strange though, he'd bought it from this devil. HE got upon his feet. Patrick was healed. He put away the bottle. The Scubas where still about. Patrick reloaded his pistol. Then Renon rised. The colour of his skin had altered. Patrick made the sign of the cross. The blue demon smirked. "Your soul is mine!" HE came dashing while releasing a barrage of blue projectiles. Patrick felt the frost. He would be tore to pieces. Patrick gathered. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost!" The flurry of flames blocked the objective. Patrick fused with man-beast power. Stakes, burning hot with plasma, nailed his enemy. The trident struck him across the chest. Patrick staggered backward. Renon laughed. Frost bit through his body. Either way, Patrick was able to summon the spinning books. Renon, who'd made another dash, struck them head on. Burning, the devil fell back. But then he gathered. Patrick had a sip of the blue medicine. That removed the frozen state. He shot plasma toward those Baracuda-like monsters. They couldn't bite through his armour. They where never the less a divertion from the real villain. Patrick sidestepped when the demon shot with other blue blasts. Garlic blocked the objective. He came from the side while shooting. Renon got hit. Then he struck him hard. Patrick got knocked by the shoulder-block. He stamped with the cross. Patrick still kept it tied around his wrist. Renon hhowled like a forsaken soul in Hell. Patrick got back up as the enemy shot with frost. The flurry of flames saved his life and soul. The flurry also burned another of those evil star gates. The crystals got in handy. Renon was close in presuit. Patrick threw roses to might shield himself. That at least stopped his progress. Patrick reached for the envelope. Renon was to close. Patrick had no choise. He held the garlic up just as Renon came home. Patrick hshreeked in pain. Frost chilled him. But Renon also roared. The garlic burned his flesh. HE let go. Patrick was to dizzy for anything fancy. But he buried the stake into his heart. Blood stained the snowy square. Renon collapsed into a heap. Patrick almost followed suit. It was so cold. He struggled to preduce the medicine. The blue potion restored his state. He looked about. There still was one evil star left. Patrick reloaded his pistol. He was going to shoot it down. Patrick wouldn't leave any evil gate behind which might permit devils to escape. "Patrick Oldrey!" The voice was that of Hell. Patrick shivered all over his body. Renon got up from the floor. His flesh was burning red. As where his eyes. "I enforce the contract." He said. Patrick shuddered. HE couldn't help it. "Your soul is mine." Renon got up. HE spread his wings. From his pitchfork, he sent a barrage of fireballs. Patrick held the envelope in front. "In the name of Jesus Christ!" The body of Christ simply dissolved the onslaught. "Great is our Father in Heaven." Patrick stated, making the sign of the cross. "Into His hands alone, I surrender my soul." Renon roared. "You shall suffer in Hell! Your greed has judged you!" Patrick blushed. That was almost true. But he hadn't known about the deal. That was no excuse. Renon came flying in. The Scubas where about. Patrick threw garlic about. Renon shrieked when struck. Either way, Patrick was glad the demons burned. He fetched the crystals. Then he ran. Renon was chasing him. Patrick nailed him with plasma. The demon didn't seem to even notice. HE threw another onslaught of fireballs. Patrick made a glide all underneath. A trick he'd picked up from Torah. Though he was far larger and more bulky then the little sorceress might ever be. Anyway, he pulled it off. He got up to shoot Renon in the head. The silver bullet threw him from the sky. Patrick was about to fire another shot when the Scubas came abroad. They'd finally figured they could bite his head. That really wasn't good. Heinrich told him they might inflict a poisoned state. He burned them with a flurry of flames. Then Renon rammed with fireballs. Patrick got sent sprawling. Patrick felt his life was over. Renon was approaching to ripe his price. Patrick opened the envelope. He created a circle of the Host around. Renon roared with anger. The Scubas also where detained. Patrick had another doze of the red medicine. When that was dealt with, Patrick lept over the circle. The bullets impaled the demon. His plasma burned the Scubas to dust. Patrick claimed the crystals. Then he ran. Renon had picked together. "Damn!" Patrick muttered. Somehow he must've missed the heart. Renon came flying in again. Patrick hid within the circle. He knew he must leave it behind. Never the less, it was of good help here and now. Renon was burning with frustration. Patrick went in another direction. He released the cross-shaped blast of energy toward the evil star. The portal exploded. He came in time to fetch all the crystals. Renon was in close presuit. Patrick stood in place. He made two large spinning books to protect his location. Renon collided against his barrier. Flames burned on impact. Black demon blood was spilled on the square's surface. Patrick might've used it for something. If he'd been a forgermaster that was. Renon had gotten back up. Patrick shot before he might move. The devil got hit. Patrick licked his lips. "I have faight." HE decleared. Then he ran. Renon gathered. HE came flying in hot presuit. He shot other fireballs. Patrick blocked with his own type of flame. There, he picked up a pice of the Host. Renon came for him. Patrick had unsheated his blade. When Renon stabbed, Patrick struck. Bogh pitchfork and sword got knocked from their grasp. No matter. Patrick forced the holy Wafer into his mouth. Renon then just exploded. A pentagram appeared beneath the pieces. Patrick watched as Renon was drawn into oblivion. Then he might inhale. The trident had vanished. Patrick went to pick his arsenal. Then he felt the poison. He got a sip from the green medicine. When that was over, he reholstered his pistol. With the blade in hand, he began to climb the staircase. The bats came flying in. Patrick just hoped he would arrive in time. He wouldn't let them down. Patrick shot more plasma toward his enemies. Their crystals came in handy. He would continue the battle. Patrick bit together.

Torah slashed the mammals to pieces. The bats kept flying down. Heinrich was at her side, whip in hand. The fairy fluttered before them. Her glow was the only source of light. Even the snow and ice upon the steps, seemed dull and colourless. Heinrich shared the crystals. Torah hoped Patrick would be alright. There was no time to pray for him. Other bats came flapping down. The swarm was without end. Heinrich burned them to ashes. Crystals and money lay on the ground. Torah took bogh. Although she had no further use of gold. She only wished to find her sister. To find her alive. She threw garlic into the air. Heinrich used his stopwatch to might slow down their approach. The Belmont doused them with holy water. They picked the items. Torah felt like she'd been climbing forever. Just as sudden, the steps came to a halt. Another square opened ahead. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord." Heinrich stated while making the sign of the cross. Torah agreed. Although she found the gestures somewhat over the top. Then again, she was a protestant. Torah put the matter aside. She didn't distrust him because of his support of another church. Mist seemed to have filled the entire universe. Torah might still see good enough. Rose fluttered out upon the area. "Someone is here." She shot back. "I think it's the man from the villa mansion." Heinrich and Torah exchanged glances. Had Joseph Vincent come all the way up here? Torah shook her head. She didn't like him very much. He'd accused her of being a witch. Heinrich went to inspect the fallen body. Torah shrugged. Then she followed. Just then, the figure moved. "Rose!" Torah shouted. "Get away from there." Something wasn't right. She could just smell it. Joseph had risen into the air. He was hanging there, silently. "His aura haven't become crimson yet." Rose said. Torah didn't quite understand. The antique-dealer opened his eyes. Torah gasped. Within them, she saw the fires of Hell. "He has become vampirized." Heinrich whispered. Torah felt a sudden anger. Beyond all his bragging of being destined to slay Dracula, he had just let himself get cursed. "Joseph!" She shouted. "I warned you." That she really had. Torah told him not to be careless. "It does not do to treat vampires lightly." She held bogh rings in hand. "Your weak skills will be of no help to an experienced vampire hunter." Joseph was beaming. No doubt. He lifted his hands. Claws where extended. "Be mindful." Heinrich whispered. "He might still be saved." He scratched his beard. "If only I got one of those purification crystals." Torah's eyes grew wide. She understood. "Go on." She told him. Torah didn't like it. But this was what she must do. "I have that item." Joseph was still charging up. "I can help him." She toutched his hand. "Go and save my sister." Heinrich took her hand into his own. "I will." He promised. Then Heinrich ran across the depo. He vanished among the mist. Vampire Joseph came dashing forth while hurling his vials. Torah noticed flames burned on impact. She would have to be very careful. Rose fluttered about. Torah sidestepped the approach. Joseph made a rising flame to track for her location. "Frozen flash!" Torah knelt to might shield herself. Joseph came flying. Although his eyes where flaming, she also noticed a deep sadness which almost made her wheep. When he came, Torah stamped with the cross. He screamed. No flames burned. Never the less. Torah felt pitty with him. HE slashed her through with a double claw-swipe. "Curse you!" Rose shouted. She darted toward the fallen sorceress. Torah used the laurels to might heal herself. The vampirized Joseph Vincent knelt down. He took her by the shoulders. His fangs exposed. Torah was bent on saving him. No one deserved his fate. Her gauntlets channelled the curse as she toutched him in turn. Joseph howled. Torah let go. She couldn't just kill him. "Take it!" She told her fairy while she threw the purification crystal. "I have it!" Rose exclaimed. Vampire Joseph hurled vials of anti-holy water Torah threw herself sideways. She'd hung up the silver smash. They wouldn't help her this time. "Give it to him!" She shouted. He slashed for her. Torah stepped even further away. "Star flash!" She blocked against the rising flame. Joseph reached for her as if to strangel her with bare hands. Torah ducked beneath. She let him have the garlic. The onion forced the oxygen from his lungs. Torah felt tears down her cheek when being hit by the smell. He stenched of rotting decay. That was no proof. He might still be saved. Torah got hit in the shoulder. Blood stained the snowy battlefield. Joseph licked his lips. He never spoke a word. HE came flying in. Torah threw the wild rose into the air. Joseph got knocked from the sky. He landed upon his feet. HE crashed the vial of anti-holy water. The acid liquid made a rising flame to track forward. Torah sidestepped. Then she got hit by the onslaught of vials. The acid stained her. Rose was able to restore her to the original state. Still, Torah felt more then a little dizzy. Joseph lay hands upon her. Torah held up her hand. The cross toutched his flesh. Joseph screamed. He hid his face within the fabric of his huge overcoat. Torah didn't feel proud. He slashed with a doubled claw-swipe. Torah ducked. She then made a glide. Joseph missed his objective. Never the less, the anti-holy water made flames to burn on impact. "He has his own type of mystics." Rose explained. Torah had noticed that condition. Joseph chased her about while hurling vials. She had no opportunity to make a counterstrike. Then she made a glide forward. She got underneath his flight. He turned. Torah held out her arms. The gauntlets aided her. She channelled through the curse. He roared. Torah struggled to hold tight. Then he shook her off. Torah got hammered against the floor. Dazed and confused, she rolled aside. HE picked her up. "No!" She shouted. "You don't have to do it!" For a moment, he halted. But then his fangs where exposed. Torah had no choise. She stabbed the stake through his chest. Bleeding, he staggered backward. His hand opened, the vial fell on the ground. An ugly flame burned on contact. Torah couldn't get through. But Rose could. She landed into his hand. "Please." She begged. "Don't die." Her glow shone like the sun. "There are still people who love you. Who need your help." She lifted off, the purification crystal lay in his hand. Torah went forward. She didn't blame him anymore. She had the ability to might become a witch. That he'd seen it, was nothing of which he might be held accountable. "I forgive you." Torah said. She really ment it. Joseph inhaled. He closed his hand around the crystal. For the first time since he approached, the antique-dealer closed his eyes. The stone shone clearer then she could manage. Torah looked aside. "I really believed I was the one to kill Dracula." Joseph said. "I believed it so strong that I forgot about God's mercy." Rose had settled between them. Her healing power closed around them bogh. Joseph smiled. Torah hadn't noticed how kind he really did look. "It isn't important who close Dracula in his tomb." Torah said. "The important thing is that it's done." Joseph nodded. He still looked so tired. "Here." Another voice said. "Try this." Patrick went down on one knee. He gave to the antique-dealer, some food he'd preduced from the backpack. "Thank you, werewolf." Patrick first withdrew. But then he smiled a rather sour smile. "Yeah." HE said. "Whatever." Joseph took the food. He looked like he could need every bite. "Did you defeat him?" Torah asked. Patrick shrugged. "No big deal." The look in his eyes told different. Torah made no mind about it. "You must continue." Joseph said. "The Belmont warrior needs your help." His face adapted a serious attitude. "No man alone might defeat that prince of Darkness." Torah believed that. "We can't just leave you." She said. "You also need our aid." Rose settled upon her shoulder. "I'll stay here." She offered. "Then you might go and fight." Patrick shook his head. "She is your sister." HE said. "Henry Oldrey only wished to save the children." HE smiled. "I should behave like him." He got serious. "Go." He said. "This is your battle." Torah nodded. She knew he was right. "Stay with them." She told her fairy. "Help them if possible." Rose lifted into the air. "I will." She promised. "We'll come." Joseph said. "When I'm regained my health. We'll all come." Torah smiled. "That I take on your word." She said. Torah preduced the ring-smash. Then she ran up the stairs.

Patrick watched her leave. Somehow this was the right way it should happen. Why he thought so, Patrick couldn't tell. "She is really so clever." Joseph Vincent pointed out. Patrick nodded. "She is." He said. Not that Patrick really knew that much about her. "She comes from Boston." HE told. "Torah was teatched in her craft by Yoko Belnades." Joseph cast him a quick glance. "You mean the Yoko Belnades? She who faught with Soma Cruz in 2035?" Patrick nodded. "The very same." Joseph made the sign of the cross. "Then I understand." They became silent. "I wonder where he might be." Rose said. Patrick gave her a look. "Who do you mean?" He asked. Rose's glow changed colour. "The Dark Lord of course. That boy which held me captive." Patrick felt like being hit in the head. "You mean." He asked. "The old man up there isn't… ?" The fay's light turned to orange. "I thought you knew." Patrick was shaken. HE got to his feet. Joseph tried to sit up. "Stay here." He told them. "Here." HE gave him his backpack. "There are medicines in there." He explained. "Hurry." Rose encouraged. "Something terrible is about to happen." Patrick didn't answer. He instead ran for the staircase. Bats came down. He shot with plasma. Patrick prayed he wouldn't be to late.

Heinrich had reached the top of the stairs. He held the whip tightly. Those glearing red eyes where simply torches which burned at the door. The doorstep was supported by a carved fence of stone. There where no way around the keep. No gallery or back-door. Heinrich inhaled. He knew this was barely an excuse to delay. There where no guards. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. This was his greatest challenge. He could feel the malice which waited within. He put a hand upon the lock. The wooden, iron-bound door wasn't closed. Heinrich exhaled. He was afraid. But not horrified. With a sudden push, he moved them aside. Mist, and a terrible stench, whelled out. Heinrich thought of what Jonathan Harker told in his journal. What happened when he, Quincey Morris and a couple of other gentlemen had entered Carfax abby in 1897. Heinrich knew it was time. All the haunt had been for this moment. Heinrich lowered his head. "Wait for me!" Someone was shouting. Heinrich looked back. Torah came through the mist and gloom. Though her fairy wasn't with her. "He's alright." She smiled. "Patrick and Rose are with him." Heinrich put a hand on her shoulder. HE never could explain his joy. "Come." He simply said. Together they entered the keep.

(A.N: The moment is at hand. This is the final approach. I don't follow the exact line of the CV64 games. I instead burrow elements from bogh titles. Have a nice time.)

""For blood is the life.""
3. MoseS: 17, 4.

Dracula battle: "Dracula's track" Dance In A Phantasm's Hell.
Throne room, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Pillars of massive dark stones went toward the domed ceiling of this place. Heinrich didn't mind about the high trone. He went toward the center of the keep. There, upon the alter, which was drapped with black cloth, lay Dracula's coffin. The multitude of lit candles where the only source of light. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Torah made no sound. A deep silence had befallen this place. "I fear nothing even though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death." He whispered. Torah gave him a look. Although she didn't answer. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He raised his hand to might open the casket. Then the lid flew off with a bang. "Damn!" Heinrich ducked. Torah gave forth a scream. With a loud crash, the lid landed on the floor. Then everything grew silent again. "It's Saria." The sorceress finally whispered. Heinrich toutched his crucifix. It was true. Encapsulated within a huge crimson jewel, the dryad sat in the coffin. She became aware of them. She tried to speak. Then she banged on the crystals inside. A thick fog filled the room. Heinrich drew back. He knew that laugher. "Worm, thou dare to challenge the power of Darkness? Ist est death thy seek?" The mist changed into that of a figure. The prince of Darkness slow and ominously descended down. "As thy wish. Come, I willst tear thy limb from limb." The Dark Lord spread his cape. Three homing balls of Hellfire got released from within his grasp. Heinrich dodged. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah used her own magic to destroy the count's attack. The great undead had already teleported. He appeared flouting in the air. Three-prolonged and preshurized flames shot for their locations. Heinrich was able to whip the attack. Torah threw stakes. That made the projectiles to explode. "We take him together." Heinrich suggested. "I'll try to take the brunt of his attack." Heinrich tightened the grip on his whip. "Impale him if you ever get the chanse." Torah gave him a concearned look. Heinrich had no time for tactics. Beside, this wasn't the Vampire Killer. The vampire was back. The sonic blast schooked him greatly. "Yeal to mine power." The count said. Heinrich felt he got dragged forward. Dracula opened his cloack. "I won't let you do it." Torah came dashing from the side. "Do nay surpass thy place, girl." He said while lifting his hand. Heinrich used his laurels. Fused with electricity, he removed the pathrified state. "You're not going to hurt her." He said through clenched teeth. The Dark Lord shot one large bat-inhabited blue fireball toward the sorceress. Heinrich whipped his head. The undead snarled. His fangs where exposed. Although he was, like Mina HArker had described, cruel, malishious and sinful, he had a certain charisma. Had he not felt it already? The count's hand became a fist. "Thy life ist over." A bolt of crimson lightning shot down. Heinrich got thrown away. The bolt made electrical currents to become spread along the floor. Heinrich used his laurels. Then Torah came dashing from behind. "Stay away from my brother!" She shouted. The prince of Darkness merely laughed by her effort. "Insolent worm. Upstart weakling." He accused. "All who uppose the power of the Dark Lord must die." A ball of flame appeared in his grasp. "I shalst make thy soul suffer in Hell. Come, meet thy doom." Heinrich shuddered. It was the words he'd used during their meeting atop the castle wall. "Don't treat me as a child!" Torah dodged his Hellfireball. She threw garlic. The Dark Lord had teleported. He appeared somewhere else. The sonic blast struck the sorceress. "Thy shalst grant me thy blood." Dracula said. Heinrich grew pale as the count licked his lips with expectation. He got back on his feet. Torah song. The count was disturbed in his victory. She was free. Heinrich threw the boomerang. Dracula got struck. Heinrich retained his cross. The Dark Lord used his skill of alchemy to restore his appearance. He lifted into the air. Torah's stakes passed under his stature. "Thee hast nay achieved anything!" He boomed. Heinrich had the axe ready. The count teleported. "Watch out!" Torah shouted. The prince of Darkness made his lightning strike. Heinrich jumped over the current. He hoped she where alright. There where multiple other of those to make it real nasty. The count teleported like a coil of mist. He disappeared before him. Heinrich whipped when the trio of pressurized flames came for him. Torah came running in. She threw garlic toward the count. His flaming gesture blocked the attack. Heinrich threw the axe. He fused with bloodline mystics. Flames burned the count's undead flesh. Then Heinrich got hit by the count's Hellfire. Heinrich winched in pain. Torah was at his side. She'd opened the mystic book. She played that melody which she'd sung to him within the entrance. That healed him of damage. The Dark Lord's attack made the moment to shatter. Heinrich rolled aside. Torah sidestepped the fireballs. The count's eyes blazed red with flame. "Thy pest." He hissed. "Thy shouldst havest given thee might to lord Dracula." Heinrich had regained his weapon. "I'll never join you!" Torah shouted. She'd put away the ocarina. "Orbs of sorcery!" The count's flaming gesture shielded him from her magic. Heinrich bit together. When Dracula reappeared, releasing his sonic blast, Heinrich made his crystal to explode. The Dark Lord was thrown from his elevated posture. "Belmont scum!" He blocked Torah's attack while his other hand reached for him. The count's power fell upon him. Heinrich couldn't move. Couldn't protect himself. Although everything within him screamed out for him to strike. He just couldn't. The Dark Lord was to powerful. Heinrich figured how Joseph must've fallen to his might. "Jesus!" Torah shouted. "Please! Help me! Give me strength!" The silver crush dug into his spine. Dark energy got released from his accursed flesh. Torah staggered. Then she got on foot. "The laurels protected me." She challenged. "When I grant with spirit, they grant better protection from black magic." The count looked upon her. Heinrich saw her cowar in fear. "Thy havest nay the might to depose mine." Dracula said with cold arrogance. "Go. Leave this place." He demanded. "Thy willst be mine when thy havest grown from thy childhood." Heinrich wasn't quite sure what he was speaking about. No matter, Torah did. She blushed. Then she went for him. Dracula vanished. Heinrich gathered. He wasn't going to let him treat her like this. Torah got her own integrity. She should be allowed to keep it. Dracula appeared. His crimson lightning took them aback. Heinrich was forced to run. The Dark Lord was no idiot. He recognised his enemy when he lay eyes on him. Heinrich was certain he'd smelt his blood. Thus he knew who he was. Torah shouldn't have to be here. Heinrich had been wrong when telling her to kill the count. He was the wielder of the chain-whip. His blood had appointed him to hunt and destroy vampires. The count reappeared. Heinrich was to late. Dracula threw other fireballs. This time he couldn't block. He was struck to the ground. The Dark Lord laughed. Heinrich used his laurels to might heal himself. Another blue bat-inhabited Hellfireball appear in his grasp. Torah stood behind him. She opened her hand. As Heinrich got up, she released a shining wave of flaming magic. The count got hit straight on. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Dracula was screaming. Then his flames burned her in turn. Heinrich dashed forward. He wouldn't let him kill her.

Torah screamed. Pain was her reality. Never before had she felt such agony. The undead prince laughed while killing her. He found pleasure in scolding her. Torah couldn't even use her laurels. The power was to strong. Then Heinrich was there. He stamped the count with his crucifix. Torah felt like she could breave again. It felt so good to just lay there. Although her body was surging with pain. She picked together. Torah knew she had to. The laurels healed her. Torah sat up. She put the foot underneath to rise her body. She couldn't let Heinrich do all the fighting alone. Although she'd been unable to kill him, Torah had at least managed to aid her companion. Heinrich was in motion. The Dark Lord was bombarding him with HEllfireballs. Heinrich used his icon to block the objective. Torah hung up her smash. She had to get closer. The elf-stones had hurt him. That was no doubt. The count suddenly reappeared. His evil eyes where upon her. "Thy wilst grant mine a binding contract, mine dearest?" He asked in his swoothest tone. Torah opened her eyes wide. "What?" She asked. "What're you saying?" Heinrich Schneider cut the conversation short. He came in with his whip blazing hot with flame. Dracula cast him back with his sonic blast. Torah shook her head. For a moment, she'd felt… Torah didn't know what. His charm and appeal was so great. Dracula went for Heinrich. His fangs where exposed. Torah dashed. The count blocked with his flaming gesture. "Thou arest to wait." He said. "Do nay oppose mine might." Heinrich had gotten back in motion. The count got doused with holy water. Dracula screamed. His flesh was on fire. He folded the cape about. Torah ran forward. The look in his eyes made her blood chill with dred. Heinrich got shot with tripled pressurized flames. She knew his crystals couldn't last forever. "Thee shalst all suffer in Hell." He coldly remarked. "I shalst slash thy to pieces." His arrogance was the high-mark of a true aristocrat. Torah licked her lips. She didn't doubt his statement. Heinrich got back up. Dracula teleported above them. Crimson lightning struck the floor. Torah looked toward her sister. Saria was still kept within that crystal. Heinrich threw the cross. Water pillars protected his location. Dracula was already gone. Heinrich came running to her side. The count came first. Torah threw herself backward. He hurled his pressurized flames. Heinrich was struck to the floor. Torah played upon her ocarina. The "Bolero of Fire" made Dracula groan. Torah couldn't celebrate. The sonic blast shot her upon the floor. Then the inward pull drew her toward Dracula. Torah was all fright. She knew he would drink her blood. She would not let him make her into his slave. The battle had been a long and hard fight. Still, the prince of evil looked all unmarked. He still was dressed in his ancient finery. Heinrich was back. He was at her side. The Belmont made crosses rise around her. "Curse thy, Belmont cur." Torah was free. She thanked God in her heart. The elf-stoned came alive with a golden flash. "Nay!" Dracula roared. "Thee shalst nay!" He lifted into the air. Torah let him have it. The golden flow of magic force hit him burning in the chest. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. It was like his words granted her new strength. But Dracula broke free. "Thy willst submit to mine power." He spread his cape. Three-prolonged and pressurized flames fell on them. Torah's blue ring offered some protection. She was struck to the ground. Heinrich screamed with pain. If there only was something she might do. The Dark Lord made his lightning strike. Torah rolled aside the current. She got up. Torah lept across. The prince of Darkness was nowhere to be seen. She knelt beside her friend. She pressed the bottle with the last remaining drops of the red medicine against his lips. There where left enough to heal him. Torah rejoiced. He got back on his feet. The Dark Lord had arrived. He struck her with the sonic blast. Torah could do nothing. She got dragged toward his grasp. Heinrich came running. Dracula shot his tripled Hellfire. Heinrich whipped them aside. Just as Dracula prepared to lay hand on her, Torah nailed him through the heart. Dracula roared. Blood stained the red carpet. She'd pulled the stake from her belt when he was still busy with Heinrich. Speaking of which, he was there in this moment. His whip was on fire. HE struck the count with all his force. Dracula groaned. He staggered backward. Flames burned his flesh. Then suddenly, the count began laughing. "So, thee thought thy havest conquered me? To save the countryside ist nay that simple. Misrable creatures. How darest thy to oppose mine evil might. Darkness willst rule. Die, weak fools!" Then the Dark Lord fell. HE vanished in a pyre of dark crimson flare. Then the cape fell. Torah watched it burn. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "Julia." He whispered. "I have avenged you." Torah lowered her head. "Gwendolyn Fernandez, grandmother, where you watching me?" Although the fight was over, she didn't feel victorious. Heinrich was whipping the crystal. Torah searched through the ashes to might obtain the mystic orb. That might free Saria from the count's imprisonment. Something moved. Torah got into a defensive motion. Iori Najima appeared from behind a pillar. "Iori?" She exclaimed. She'd thought the boy to be dead. Even now, he appeared fearful. "Is Dracula really dead?" HE asked. "Can he never rise again?" Heinrich looked down from what he was doing. "That shurly depends upon what humans do." HE said. Torah agreed. She knew the legend of Dracula. "I guess." She said. Their words where kept short. The castle shook. "We must escape!" Iori shouted. They exchanged glances. "We have to save Saria." Torah stated. "We can't let her remain." Heinrich said. The door was burst open. The beast broke in.

Patrick reached the top of the stairway. The castle shook. Something was about to happen. HE could feel it. "No!" Patrick howled. The Dark Lord wasn't going to win. He changed back into his man-beast form. With his body blazing with plasma, Patrick struck against the door. Although bound with iron, the wood couldn't withstand him. Patrick snarled. He gave it one more strike. The door fell inward. Patrick waisted no time for celebration. He knew his friends where in peril. He dashed into the throne room. They where there, arguing about what to do. Patrick didn't mind. HE snarled. With all his force, he gave forth his man-beast power. Saria screamed. The crimson jewel was shattered. Patrick staggered. Even so, he howled with triumph. The little white-haired boy gave him one look. Then he ran. Patrick followed. He hoped his friends also would come. He tore down the curtains of blue, red and yellow velvet. The second door didn't last for a second. Cold and mist blew inside. Patrick unsheated his pistol. Where had he got to? He wasn't going to escape. He should've known it all since the beginning. The Dark Lord was here somewhere. He could smell him.

(A.N: I hope you liked this chapter. The end really is at hand. I try to give them the elder speech. When I'm unshure, I use German. Have a nice time.)

""My soul is heavy to the death with sorrow.""
Mark: 14. 34.

Escape track: Castle escape.
Throne room, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Saria watched them all leave. Patrick had ran out, presuing that little boy. Heinrich had no doubt. He'd followed his friend. Saria had expected Torah to stay with her. That didn't happen. She was all alone. When Patrick rammed the crystal, she'd forgotten about her restrain. She'd been so joyful that all other became unimportant. That she shouldn't have done. Upon that instant, the seal had been broken wide open. He who lusted for power, had been there to absorb all the might of the leaking malice. She sat in that coffin. Saria hadn't even moved. It was all her fault. She should've prevented this to happen. Finally she could see what she'd done. When refusing, there had only been a matter of time before he would act on her weakness. She'd heard the music. Saria had believed he wished to absorb the abilities of the chosen. When it had been about the curse all along. Just like when Dimitri Blinov wished to absorb it. This incarnation was stronger. He had achieved his goal. Saria whept. She could do nothing to stop it. "Do not be mournfull." A fairy had settled upon her shoulder. "You must learn, like I have, to accept your destiny." Rose shone a determined orange. Saria cleaned away her tears. She was right. Of course. Saria would do what she must.

Castle keep, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Patrick bit his teeth together. "There he is!" Patrick shouted, trying to encourage his friends. The castle still shook. But this tower seemed stabile enough. They ran down the staircase. Although the mist and gloom still enshrouded everything, he could see this. Near the bottom of the stairs, Iori was flying upon a winged horse. "It reminds me of Death." Heinrich muttered. Patrick nodded. They made the sign of the cross. Although he'd been occupied with the machines, Patrick had seen what had transpired. He hadn't had time still to tell them about his discovery. They reached the end of the staircase. The platform was made of metal. "Here are some controls." Torah explained. Patrick went to inspect. "It's an elevator." He finally agreed. "Then let's get going." Heinrich said. "Iori disappeared above." Patrick nodded. "I think I might make it." The switches where nothing of which he was familiar with. "I have it!" He then exclaimed. "Here it goes!" Down. Patrick cursed. He hoped he didn't look all that sheepish. "Try again." Torah suggested. Heinrich cleaned the smile of his face. Patrick muttered. This time, it really went upstairs. When they reached the top, Patrick ran out on the rooftop. Iori disembarged. Then something knocked him cold.

The castle shook. Simon toutched his cross. The machines hadn't been defeated. Instead, they'd merely withdrew. Lucy dusted of her shirt. "What is going on?" Heinz asked. His expression told that he was close to tears. Simon wasn't all that bright and strong himself. If the castle was about to cave in on them… Then they would be finished. "I think we better make our own assault." Simon began. Although not sure if he was preparing for a massacre. Their own maybe. Simon closed his hands. If only Alfred had been here. He was a much better leader. Their leader, actually. Lucy toutched his hand. "Look." Simon gazed for what the strawberry-blonde girl was aiming for. "That's not possible." He gasped. "I don't believe it." Benjamin stated. But it was true. The robots where all standing still. Olivia went to inspect the matter. "They're all turned off!" She exclaimed. "Look!" She pushed one droid. The robot fell limp on the floor. Simon cheered. As did his friends. Heinz was the first to gather. "We should get out of here." He stated. Simon agreed. "Let's go." He led them toward the steps. They had to climb back up into the throne room. "Do not be afraid." The voice was like a breth of fresh air. Simon stopped. "We need a favour of you." Beams of light descended.

Joseph Vincent had been healed by the vampire hunters. For that he would be forever grateful. The fairy had led him. She was determined that something aweful had happened. Though she couldn't tell what. Joseph had gotten really terrified by this moment. The bats had hindered him from reaching the throne. Why hadn't they been here when he first went up? That was a problem he couldn't solve. The door was broken open. Joseph got his holy water in hand. He might still help them. There only was a girl within the coffin. Strange though, but he no longer hated her. He made the sign of the cross. No mystery the vampire had been able to trap him. Darkness had gotten a grip on him already. Joseph wouldn't permit it to take hold a second time. He thus ran through the chamber. The hunters where not in there. Mist came sweeping through the broken wood. Joseph ran down the spiral staircase. He threw holy water toward the mammals. His cross kept them from landing. He got upon the elevator. The mechanics where easy to control. Joseph heard the sound of battle from above. He would not be to late. As he reached the rooftop, he saw Patrick laying in a heap. Joseph prayed he wasn't dead. HE still got a vial of holy water left in his hand. The Dark Lord was not going to win.

(A.N: Things are not always what they appear. Have a nice time.)

"Then one of the soldiers stabbed him in his side with a spear. Immediately water and blood was poured out."
John: 19. 34

Final battle: "Last boss track" Concert of Another Dimension.
Castle keep, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Heinrich and Torah stood upon the rooftop. It was midnight. "What evil is this?" Heinrich asked. He didn't even had to see beyond the obvious to feel it. "The strength of this evil surpasses even Dracula's foul aura." The girl toutched her cross. "Iori." Heinrich asked, tightning the grip on the Undead Killer. "What are you?" The boy didn't ANSWER. At least not at first. Torah preduced her silver crush. "You have destroyed his servant." Iori said. He looked so young and innocent that Heinrich almost doubted this to happen. The boy looked down upon his hands. "I did not expect such power." He looked back up. Torah gasped. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. His eyes where shining red. "Enough." Iori stated. "Now you face the Dark Lord incarnate." "What? Not Dracula?" Heinrich gapped. Then he shook his head. "You." Torah licked her lips. Heinrich drew backward. The robots which had knocked Patrick cold, stood in line around the area. "The Dark Lord incarnate!?" Heinrich didn't know what to say. Then the girl shouted. "Oh no!" A surge of dark energy surrounded the boy. He was transformed. Another boy stood in his place. Bogh eyes and hair had a strange blue colour. Even this body looked cute and not like Dracula at all. But then he became adult. The black shroud which earlier had seemed like a burden, now fit him perfectly. The hood was pulled back. The cloth couldn't conseal his blue-greyish brest. "Imbecile." He shouted. "YYou thought you could defeat me? I waited only so that I could steal the power. Now I will crush you! I, Malus." Heinrich shuddered. His greatest fear was thus untrue. Dracula hadn't returned. But this boy really was him incarnate. "Slaves!" Malus ranted. "Welcome the return of your master! You have killed his clone, the decoy for my sleeping power." Clones! So that was how it was possible. That man really had been Dracula. And still, not Dracula at all. It had been the perfect set-up for his plot. "I return Now, after 100 years, I return in the body of this child. I never imagined he would crave such a price for all these waisted years." Malus didn't even seem to notice that they where getting closer. "I will make him to live again!" HE stated. "Misrable worms! Your rightful lord has arrived! I will wrap the land in darkness and crush all to my will!" He laughed. "On your knees before the might of the Dark Lord!" He pointed at them. "Oppose me and die!" Heinrich toutched his crucifix. "Be the will of the Lord." He said in a low voice. Torah dashed for his body. "We shall see on that!" She challenged. The undead didn't answer. Instead he made a flurry of homing Hellfireballs to attack. Heinrich went in front. HE whipped all the bats away. The explosion didn't make him stagger. Heinrich blinked. How did he do that? It was like the mere presence of the Dark Lord, although incarnated, had given the Undead Killer a boost. Malus vanished like an electrical current. Heinrich looked about. "Why don't the robots attack?" Torah asked. Heinrich shook his head. He didn't know. "I deactivated them." Malus said. He had reappeared. "No one is to oppose my might. Not they." His hands got lifted. "Not even you." "Watch out!" Rose had arrived. She flew all across the battlefield. Malus caused a rising flame in front. The blast caused other explosions to become spread outward. Heinrich ran. His whip couldn't protect against such. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah released with all her force. The Dark Lord hurled other bats. Heinrich felt the force although he couldn't see anything. The air pocket caught Torah in place. "Your blood will make me strong." Malus went forth. "Not if I can help it." Heinrich muttered. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" He shouted. HE whipped the undead. Malus screamed. It was terrible to hear. Then an eruption of flames washed the area. "Zapphire curtain!" Torah shouted. Heinrich hid behind his icon. The evil force couldn't reach him. When it was over, the young vampire still stood in place. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Suddenly, he vanished. This time he couldn't track the current. Multiple other bolts struck the rooftop. "Get down!" Rose's warning made Torah threw herself on the ground. Heinrich lept. Malus caused a rising flame. Other explosions burst outward. Heinrich got in from the side. The young man trapped him within an air pocket. Just then, Heinrich used the stopwatch to trap the candidate within an electrified field. Malus snarled. Though he released him. Torah threw stakes at him. The Dark Lord got impaled. Heinrich knew they'd missed the heart. The flurry of Hellfireballs struck them bogh backward. Heinrich lay prone when Rose fluttered above. She healed him of his damages. Heinrich sprat back up. Torah was playing her music. Malus teleported like a bolt of lightning. Others struck to mask his approach. Flames washed over the area. Heinrich held his crucifix high in defience. The onslaught didn't harm him. Though he knew it might do. Malus vanished. Torah came dashing. Their enemy struck her down. His claws where extended. Heinrich snarled. Nobody should treat a girl like that. He made the crystal to explode. The sheer force made the vampire stagger. "Your fool!" He bellowed. "Die!" The flame rised in place. The explosion forced him to retreat. Torah got up on one knee. Malus caught her within the air pocket. She was held in place. The Dark Lord candidate went for her location. Heinrich struggled to get through. Malus kept hurling his prolonged Hellfire. Heinrich was powerless to help. He could only watch as the vampire lay hand on his sister. In that moment, Heinrich felt they truly where blood related. Malus bent over her. His fangs where exposed. "Traitor!" She shouted. "I won't be your plaything! Behind blue eyes!" Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Her eyes turned from brown into that of clear blue. As the undead was about to bite her, parallel beams of frost shot from within her gaze. "No!" Malus shrieked. Heinrich watched with amazement as he got frozen over. The victory didn't last. Malus got free from the spell. Just as simple as when he'd escaped from the field. Heinrich moved for his location. Malus had teleported. "He is here!" Rose warned. Heinrich held bogh icon and crucifix in hand. "Zapphire curtain!" Torah cast her magic spell. The fires of Hell erupted upon the rooftop. Malus laughed as he watched them cower. Heinrich threw the cross. Malus blocked with a cluster of Hellfireballs. Torah threw garlic at him. The rising flame, spreading explosions, took the brunt of her attack. Heinrich retained his item. Torah withdrew while hurling roses. The explosions made frost to spread outward. His path was haulted. Heinrich whipped him in the head as his whip became a bar of gold. Malus was struck. But then his air pocket trapped him in place. Malus shot him with all his mammals. Heinrich roared. Pain was everything. "Let him go!" Torah shouted. She held out her palm. The elf-stones shone with a bright yellow light. He turned to face her. The force dug into him. Heinrich lay prone on the floor. He got no strength left. Rose settled upon his chest. "Don't die." She pleaded. "Without you all fail." The soft toutch of her healing power removed his bruishes. Heinrich got up. That he better. Malus was about to kill Torah. Heinrich picked himself up. With his Undead Killer whip in hand, Heinrich went forth into battle. He would save her.

Torah was screaming. He made her to burn in turn. The flames had burned her. Without shielding, not even the blue ring could protect her. Either way, the talisman was getting hot. She didn't care. All she minded, was for the pain to stop. Malus picked her up. "Fearwell, Torah Fernandez." He glouted. "You have been such a nice opponent." He then grabbed her by the neck. Although in a daze of torture, Torah still managed to stamp with the cross. The stench of burning flesh brought her back to reality. Malus had dropped her. His skin was on fire. "Damn you!" He howled. "You shall shurly meet death!" "That rests with the Lord." Heinrich said. His daggers got buried into their enemy. Malus staggered. Blood stained his cloack and the floor. The vampire teleported. Torah used her laurels. She had to use much magic to restore herself. She really had been close to death. Torah licked her lips. She could still be killed. Malus came like an electrical current. Other surges hit the ground. She where at a loss on where to go. Heinrich was already on the move. "There!" Rose shouted. "Don't you see him!?" Torah did. The Dark Lord incarnate hurled a storm of Hellfireballs toward her comrade. If only Patrick could come around. That wasn't likely. All she'd been able was to rise a protective field around his unconshious body. Malus made flames rise in front. The spreading blasts forced Heinrich on the retreat. Torah joined the battle. She got her silver smash ready. Malus tried to capture her within his air pockets. Torah had learned by now. How to read the signs. She avoided the gust of hot air. Heinrich threw axes into the air. Malus vanished. The Belmont went to pick his items. Malus stood in place. He released his outburst of flame. Heinrich rised a shield of crosses. Torah was to far away to be captured. Malus didn't forget about her. He shot his fireballs at her. Torah ducked. The bats got a homing propencity. That she should've known. "Hand of fate!" The burst blasted the Hellfire into oblivion. Torah was breathing heavily. That was the last assault. Saria's medallion felt like blazing. Torah was unsure if she hadn't burned a bit more of her human bloodline. She prayed that was untrue. Heinrich was busy at work. HE whipped the Hellfireballs. Malus got struck by his throwing-cross. Malus snarled. He vanished from sight. This time Heinrich got struck by the currents. He fell on the floor. "You must help him." Torah told the fairy. "Will do!" Rose fluttered away. MAlus went for her. He tried to trap her again. Torah wouldn't let that happen. Instead of dodging his assault, she dashed right underneath. "Your half-blood bastard!" MAlus cursed just as the silver smash slashed into him. Torah had no reason for victory. His claw-swipe sent her flying. Torah groaned. All oxygen got struck from her lungs. Struggling for breth, she was just grateful he didn't sent her off of the rooftop. She got up in time to see Heinrich whip the vampire's head. The flaming blast which followed, the spreading of his dark explosions, nearly caught the agile Belmont. Torah cheered when she noticed he survived. "Little pest!" MAlus also had noticed. He caused a flaming eruption upon the area. Torah still was to far away. Just as good. She got no magic to shield herself. No matter though. Torah still was fit for fight. Heinrich blocked the onslaught of Hellfire. Then he got trapped within one of the air pockets. Torah ran forward. Then even she got trapped. Malus laughed. "This have all been very amusing." He pured. "But now it is over." He lifted bogh hands. Torah fought to get loose. The Hellfireballs came for her. The undead already had turned. "And for you." Flames rised in front. "Damn you to Hell!" Malus got shot in the back. Torah got free. Heinrich was in motion. Patrick fell back down. He'd come around just in time. Though he looked weak. Torah was unsure if she should help him or continue the battle. She knew what to do. Heinrich was chased by explosions. Torah held the elf-stones tight. She only had to get a little closer. Malus shot Hellfireballs for her location. Torah threw flowers in defence. He was gone. The multiple electrical currents confused her. "There he is!" Rose shouted. "Watch out!" The enemy caused another of his eruptions. Torah used her elf-stones for shielding. The blue ring also protected her from this kind of danger. Even so, she was forced even further backward. Then Heinrich came. His whip was on fire. The vampire got struck down. He fell into a heap. Torah didn't care. She ran toward the man-beast. Heinrich was at their side. Through their combined efforts, Patrick got back up. "I'm sorry." He said as Rose settled above him. "Sorry that I couldn't lend you more help." He looked better when Rose had worked her magic. Torah smiled. A loud boom cleaned it off her face. "Look!" She shouted. A bolt of lightning surrounded Malus. She blinked. He was Iori again. The boy lay prone on the floor. Torah shook her head. What had happened with him? She went for his location. Iori slowly got up. Torah knelt before him. "Where am I?" Iori asked. A look of dread was in his eyes. "What has happened to me?" She reached out her hand. Iori was about to take it, when he got doused in holy water. "You cannot deceive me!" Iori screamed. Torah was thrown back. The sound was terrible to hear. Joseph was there. "Your appearance does not fool me." The antique-dealer said to clenched teeth. The men came for the location. "I knew about you." Joseph insisted. Her face must've revealed her confusion. "Don't you understand?" He asked. "That boy really is the Dark Lord." Suddenly he smirked. "Would you try to stop me?" Torah shook her head. This was all incredible. Iori was bathed in flames. "Misrable human scum!" The boy staggered to his feet. "How long do you think you can oppose me!" A great darkness had gathered around him. "Very well. Prepare to cower before the true power of my might!" All went black. "I shall drag you with me into the heart of this curse!"

Desert realm, the 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
When they could see again, Torah noticed they where within some endless desert realm. That didn't concearn her. Not the least. "Drago!" Joseph bellowed. The end where upon them. Torah just knew. The huge blue-brownish dragon-demon buried its claws into the ground. That made sand to become spread throughout the area. Torah threw off her winter clothings. In this dry heat, the Russian fur-cap and the poncho felt like a burden. She put them into her backpack. Drago shot a flurry of fireballs. Though not for them. Torah felt tears down her cheeks as Joseph was murdered. Their enemy roared. She had saved him once already. But now she could do nothing. Torah wept. Rose settled upon her shoulder. Her comfort made Torah to gather. She dried her tears. She inhaled. Then Torah preduced the silver crush. This was the final battle. She had to be ready. Without doubt or delay, Torah went into battle. The others needed her support. The huge devil had conjured his followers. Torah charged her own magic. The enemies came dashing forth. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah cast her spell.

Castle keep, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Saria was unable to help. She had followed them up to the rooftop. There was no one there. No matter. She could feel. Saria could see. She drew back in terror. Was this the temple of the forest sage? The castle shook underfoot. Saria paied it little attention. Her mind was focused. For wood's sake! She should've been able to do something! The force still eluded her. She gazed up into the high winter night. "Edward's God!" She prayed. "Alicia's God, and Heinrich's!" She struggled. "Give me strength!" "He will not help you." Torah spun. Some of them she knew. Simon smiled while cleaning his glasses. "Because you don't accept." Heinz stated. "To be the chosen one is more to admit." Lucy said. "Only you can do it." That third boy inclined. "Benjamin is right." Simon said. "How do you know all this?" Saria asked. She'd thought Patrick had saved them. "Because." The Muslim said. "They told it to us." She smiled. "Olivia speaks the truth." Simon said when reading the confusion in her eyes. "Only on your behest, the gate might be opened." Saria didn't knew what to say.

Desert realm. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Heinrich was running. Malus, or Drago, or whatever he was called, had just murdered the antique-dealer. He mourned him dearly. Joseph had been a good friend. Heinrich held the Undead Killer in both hands. His enemy had conjured two of his bone dragons. Patrick was shooting plasma. The skeledragon answered with breathing heavy flames. Torah threw stakes toward the demon. They just bounched off of its scales. Heinrich struggled to remember what his ancestors had told about Dracula and his ghost. "Strike the head!" He shouted. "That's the only weak spot!" Sonia Belmont had been the first to notice. She fought against the Dark Lord in 1476. The devil buried his claws. Sand was spread about. Heinrich was sweathing. How was this place really? He could see without sun or moon. Not even a star shone upon the blackened sky. Patrick howled in triumph. He'd been able to defeat one of the white dragons. Although Drago summoned another, the slain enemy left behind rounds of crystals. Patrick shared his finding. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich felt new strength when picking the big gems. Torah smiled. Her fairy gleemed above. They might still achieve victory. But only if they worked together. "Counter the dragons!" He shouted. This was his fight. "I'll handle Malus!" Torah didn't seem happy about the matter. Although she had no choise. Heinrich hoped her homing balls might strike the head. But he wouldn't trust it. Not if there wheren't any other choises. Heinrich went for the villain. Patrick and Torah had engaged the skeledragons. Heinrich dodged the flurry of fireballs. Not if he was forced, he would try to whip them. No matter. Drago gathered more dark energy. The nuclear blast was short-ranged. No matter. It nearly blast him to pieces. Only through a quick back-flip had he been able to save his life. Sand spilled over. Heinrich had no time to look for his friends. Drago approached. Heinrich jumped. He threw holy water just as the flame-whip struck home. Drago roared. The sound was like thunder. The mere impact might've stunned him. He thanked the Lord he was safe. Not in reality. Drago buried his claws into the desert floor. Sand was spread about. Heinrich felt like being buried alive. Patrick pulled him out of it. He shot silver bullets toward the skeledragon. The white dragon shook. "Hand of fate!" Torah ran straight underneath the storm of fireballs. Drago stabbed his claws into the ground. The massive blast of gold energy struck home. Heinrich ran. He prayed that the brave little sorceress was still alive. They dragged her out from under a pile of sand. The bone dragons advanced. Their group got splintered. Heinrich ran while hurling axes. Flames burst on impact. The others must've weakened the undead beast enough for this to work. The entire skeleton exploded. Heinrich picked some large crystals. Then he was forced backward. The others came to take their own gems. Drago roared in anger. HE rleased his nuclear blast. Heinrich ran for dear life. Their enemy unleashed his shower of fireballs. Heinrich summoned his force. "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth!" He shouted when being risen into the air. Drago wasn't very quick. Though he came stumbling for him. The flaming cross burst. Like a shining star, the collision hammered the devil hard. For a moment, his entire body was alive with flame. Heinrich landed upon the ground. He stumbled backward. Malus dug his nails into the ground. Sand got spilled all over the place. The bone dragon came for him. Torah was busy digging him out. "Fountain of fire!" She bombarded the white dragon with her fireballs. Drago was getting awefuly close. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. He threw the cross. Water pillars smashed the skeledragon to pieces. Crystals rained down. They took them eagerly. Then Heinrich and Torah split path. Heinrich was franticly looking for his whip. Where had it got too? "I found it!" Rose shouted. She was just beside the enemy. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Then he dashed forward. Malus shot. Heinrich fetched the Undead Killer. He whipped the fireballs away. The weapon was blazing blue with jewels. The Devil stabbed for him. Heinrich shouted. This was not like when Dracula stabbed his fingers for Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin in 1944. Patrick arrived. He hurled garlic into the air. The devil's fingers caught fire although it didn't really hurt him. The muscles where just to heavy. "Pot of gold!" Torah was there. Her shining globles burned on impact. Malus unleashed his nuclear force. The group got splintered.

Patrick was breathing heavily. The heat made his armour into a dungeon. Or perhaps a sort of killing jar. Still, he refused to give in. The roaring demon was trothing about while causing destruction. Patrick toutched his crucifix. His weapons had no effect. Heinrich and Torah where all running abroad. If only he could get high enough. Patrick threw wild roses toward the bone dragon. The flowers exploded. If only he could throw a little higher. Silver howled his challenge. He'd been able to project his wolf form forward when crushing Saria's imprisonment. If only he could do that again. The skeledragon breathed heavy flames. Patrick was able to get beneath. Sand spilled all over the place. This area was a box. Although Patrick couldn't detect the walls, he was certain. Torah came running. Heinrich gave her a boost. Patrick gapped. The little sorceress made a double jump with seeming ease. Torah was truly athletic. Patrick shot his pistol empty. The white dragon got blasted out of the sky. He knew it wasn't over. "This is for my sister!" He heard the girl shout. The blaze of her frost power was extraordinary. It almost made him forget about the skeledragon. It popped out of the ground. Patrick got the feeling of fighting the remains of one of those legendary sand worms. No matter. The bone dragon shot fireballs. Patrick ran round. Torah was back on the ground. The duo worked to dodge the storm of his Hellfire. Patrick shot plasma into the skull. The white dragon collapsed. PAtrick dodged the heavy flames. Sand was spread about. Both he and the enemy got buried. Not for long. They got free. Patrick struck his blade. The bones snapped. Silver winched when he got struck. He staggered backward. The ripped-out dragon spine left plenty of crystals behind. And even money. Patrick collected his price. The others where to preoccupied to come for their lot. Patrick ran for the battleground. There was still another of those dragons. As he moved, Drago made another villain to appear. Patrick wondered if they where manifestations of chaos beings or what? Patrick stopped to reload his pistol. He got to be ready. He only wished Heinrich could support him as well. Heinrich was doing his job anyway. He blocked the flames with a flurry of homing crosses. Then he lept under the claws. He threw axes into the air. Patrick shook his head when lightning struck the monster. The Belmont got burned by the white dragon. "Damn backstabber!" He shouted while releasing a flurry of his own flames. His friend somehow got up. The skeledragon withdrew from the area. Drago shot his nuclear blast. Patrick felt like the whole realm got blasted. HE was on his back. Torah came running. She opened his backpack. The girl aided him while taking his own potion. "Thanks!" He shouted. Torah already left the location. "No need!" She told. "Get down!" She then shouted. Patrick did as he where told. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing balls blocked the onslaught of fireballs. The bone dragon had been tailing them all along. Patrick got up. He threw plasma into the air. The skeledragon fell on the ground. Patrick's blade was blazing. HE howled while striking home. Torah attacked with her gauntlets blazing. "Get away!" Heinrich warned. He and Rose came running from the other direction. The vile monster stabbed his claws into the floor. The sheer might made sand to spill over. Patrick ran. He knew the blast could kill him. As it was, he got to struggle out from the pile. Torah made a glide beneath his attack. The wild roses hit Malus like grenades of gold. The flurry of blood drops boiled on impact. Heinrich ran. Patrick came in close presuit. He left the white dragon behind. Heinrich picked the little girl before Drago might finish her off. Rose fluttered above the duo. Patrick smiled. He couldn't help it. Although they where in the midst of a battle, they looked so very much like brother and sister. The Belmont and fairy combined their forces to heal their loved one. Patrick threw stakes toward the skeledragon. "You better hurry!" HE told his comrades. Patrick felt the loss of his own sister. Now Thomas, where ever he might be, was his only sibling. The second bone dragon came flying in. Malus was not very far behind. The battle continued. Patrick kept shooting for the skeletons. He was careful not to get near any of the devil's spilled blood. He shot more plasma. The shotgun was empty. The nearest dragon exploded. Patrick was alone when collecting gems. Where could they be? That question would have to wait for another time. The second skeleton was in range. Patrick withdrew while the enemy breathed heavy flame. Patrick was forced back to where the fight was still going on. Heinrich had somehow gotten high enough to ram Malus with tripled flaming daggers. Blood drops where spilled. Drago shot his fireballs. No place was safe. Patrick had no time to refill his firearm. The bone dragon was closing in. The fireballs burned.

Torah kept low among the dunes. The sand was hot. Torah tried not to bother. She was no glamour girl. Heinrich had impaled with daggers. But although Malus was wounded, his bulk still held through. Rose held herself underneath the sand. "What're we going to do?" She chirped. Torah wasn't sure. She tried not to let it show. "Continue the fight of course." Her medallion was still very hot. She'd been taking to many chanses already. "The curse is building up." Her fairy reported. "I know." Torah said. She didn't have to see beyond to notice. But what could they do? Only the chosen might reseal the evil power. Heinrich was still out there. HE dodged the Dracula wannabe's onslaught of fireballs. Torah watched him while he knelt. Heinrich crashed the vial of holy water. Torah gasped. He too was growing stronger. The engulfing wave of holy flame burned skyhigh. Malus himself got washed over. Heinrich then got away. Torah knew he better. Malus released his nuclear force. Torah got up. Rose was at her side. Patrick couldn't be left alone with the skeledragons. Though he was doing very well. Plasma shot from his palms like scythes of force. The white dragons really didn't like that. He would throw in an ocational garlic or flower. Torah preduced the mystic book. The pages opened upon another lyric. Torah preduced her ocarina. These notes she hadn't played before. The "Requelm of Spirit" shone like the sun in the darkness of the cursed desert realm. The result was obvious. Drago roared while releasing a wave of blood drops. Torah barely had time to finish her music when he made a counterstrike. The sand almost buried her alive. Heinrich was there to pull her out. He always seemed to come to the rescue. Torah blushed. Heinrich Schneider was a vampire hunter. No questions asked. If anyone could lead them through, he would. Torah got determined by his actions. Patrick came running. "I've got the crystals!" HE shouted. They went for his location. Torah felt even better after having collected the gems. "Dragons coming in!" Rose warned. Patrick reloaded his shotgun. "Take him." He said while changing form. "I'll take them." He growled before leaving. Torah smirked. Patrick for once never gave up. Heinrich shrugged. She would have to solve that puzzle another day. Malus gave them no breather. HE blasted the area clean with sand. Torah lost sight of her allies. So be it. Rose was still with her. The boom of Patrick's pistol told of his location. She didn't go that way. Torah didn't wish to interrupt his timing. Somehow she'd gotten very close to their enemy. Malus looked down upon her with eyes of flame. Torah for once felt very little. She thought of the legends which told that he had been lusting for her ancestor, Carrie Fernandez. "Get away from there!" Heinrich appeared. His whip was on fire. Drago shot his own fireballs. Somehow Heinrich was able to whip them away. Torah gathered. She would help him. The elf-stones where in her grasp. Torah put away her doubt. Put away the thoughts of their obvious weakness against this monster. She just channelled all her faight, all her wish to aid her friends, and the love of the forest into one allpowerful attack. A flow of gold shot from between her fingertips. She gasped. Torah pulled together. She held the stones with both hands while releasing her power. Drago roared. Blood was falling like raindrops. Flames burned about. She felt Patrick's hands on her shoulders. "Keep it focused." HE said. "Do as he tells." Rose encouraged. Torah tried to listen. Her force was already weakning. Heinrich came. His whip was still burning. The Belmont's whip shrouded him within devastation. Then he shrunk back into a heap. Torah let her hands fell down. She couldn't keep going. Malus looked upon them with blue eyes burning with the fires of Hell. Torah tried to pull together. As she did, she knew it was to no awail. Torah had given all she got in that last attack. No matter. She toutched the cross. Torah would rather die. Heinrich and Patrick got their weapons ready. Torah lifted both hands for a last attack. She didn't care it would kill her. Torah had decided this would be her destiny. Rose beamed. Then all vanished. They where brought into another place, where Saria was waiting.

Castle hall, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
All the screens went blank. Black Inviktus remained in place. Then how was this possible? "Chek the transmittor." She hissed. The robots didn't answer to her command. "They have been shut off." Sting sounded like she didn't believe it. The warlock was unsure. Though she did not let it show. Diter Hauser, who had executed the command, shook his head. "I don't understand." He reported. "Everything is black." Black Inviktus beheld him. "Comunication. Data memory and back-ups." He shook his head. "All is just fried." "This is unbelievable." Sting exclaimed. The red guards muttered among themselves. "Silence!" The warlock boomed. "This is the shaman's department." Salmisra, and her aids, went forth to work. It had been wise to summon the undead and living forces. Niram stood like he was all alone. He had told her what transpired within the tower of sorcery. "My lady!" The harpy suddenly screamed. "Look!" She shouted. "Look upon the darkside!" The four winged demons which had been with them, suddenly roared with anguish. The castle shook. "No!" They rasped. "We will not be imprisoned again!" But their hour was past. Shocked, they watched as they collapsed into heaps of ashes. Then a glow of bright green and golden light shone through all.

(A.N: This have been the CV64. I had to choose Reinhardt's and Carrie's mission. That was of most relevance to the story that I wish to tell. I wonder what place that desert realm really belonged to. Is it a part of Hell, the chaotic realm or the dark area? Never the less, I hope you liked it. have a nice time.)